Poinsettia Care Tips

Poinsettias are the quintessential Christmas plant. Their bright-red and vibrant green hues are the colors most people associate with Christmas, and their flowers are much in demand during the holidays.

However, poinsettias are fragile plants, and by the end of Christmas, some of them get so bruised and damaged that most people just consign them to the garbage bin. Getting a decorative plant is an investment and with proper care, you can have poinsettia plants that last more than a season.

Proper Lighting

Poinsettias love the sun. After all, they are subtropical plants. Choose a sunny window facing south, east, or west as the north side of your house doesn’t get too much sunlight. During fall, make sure that it gets exactly twelve hours of darkness each day. Try covering them in a black plastic sheet at night. The darkness helps it grow. Keeping them in the sun will keep them from growing buds.

Temperature

To keep the poinsettia blooming, a constant temperature of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Avoid exposing them to drafts or sudden changes in temperature. Dried-out or thin poinsettias are a sign of changes in weather, and being subtropical plants, they won’t appreciate a sudden change of climate. A greenhouse is perfect for growing poinsettias. If you don’t have one, your basement would make a good substitute.

Water and Fertilizer

Too much water will drown your plant. After the holidays, don’t forget to water the poinsettia, but decrease the amount by April. If you want it to bloom again, add some fertilizer. Regular doses of water and fertilizer will keep your poinsettia alive and well through the summer, but avoid adding fertilizer to the soil during the holidays.

Potting, Cutting, and Pruning

After putting the poinsettia on display for the holidays, there will be dried-out leaves and stems everywhere. Take the plant out of its sleeve, and put in a decent-sized pot. By mid-May, cut back the stems by around 4 inches. Cut the stems by another inch in early July. The stems should have grown branches and leaves by August, so cut the new stems again. Be sure to leave three or four leaves on each shoot. This is the last cutting you’ll do until the next spring, so this is very important.

A poinsettia in bloom is a happy poinsettia. It’s not easy, but if you take good care of it, you get the chance to see it bloom the following year.

Inspired by my passion for the visual arts and my years of experience in the field of design, I enjoy a life of style and artistry. I am a devoted follower of minimalism and I believe in the marriage of form and function. I try to live by these principles, from my subtle but classic fashion sense when it comes to clothes and jewelry, to the various projects I manage and work on in my professional career

Influenced by the refined grace of Coco Chanel, the timeless beauty of my favorite city, Stockholm, and the new ideas and trends I read from design books, I try to infuse my life with elegance and sophistication. Join me on Balsam Hill’s blog to get my tips and advice on home design and personal style.

Inspired by my passion for the visual arts and my years of experience in the field of design, I enjoy a life of style and artistry. I am a devoted follower of minimalism and I believe in the marriage of form and function. I try to live by these principles, from my subtle but classic fashion sense when it comes to clothes and jewelry, to the various projects I manage and work on in my professional career
Influenced by the refined grace of Coco Chanel, the timeless beauty of my favorite city, Stockholm, and the new ideas and trends I read from design books, I try to infuse my life with elegance and sophistication. Join me on Balsam Hill’s blog to get my tips and advice on home design and personal style.